Aric Almirola’s Xfinity race win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday marked a pivotal moment in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff, as he outdueled young competitors Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love to clinch the first guaranteed slot in the owners championship at Phoenix. Almirola, at the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota, seized victory after an intense contest, ensuring his team’s presence in the upcoming Championship Four showdown.
The race was a showcase of strategy and skill, particularly between Almirola and Zilisch, the top championship contender who has dominated much of the season. Almirola led 107 of the 201 laps, regaining the lead from Zilisch with nine laps to go and maintaining a razor-thin .696-second margin at the finish line, making it one of the most fiercely fought races of the 2025 season.
Fierce Racing Defines the Playoff Clash
This latest win represents Almirola’s third visit to victory lane in 2025 and the 10th NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of his career. Racing part-time this season, Almirola made his decisive move late, diving beneath 19-year-old Zilisch and fending off the younger driver in a thrilling closing duel. This result not only narrows the race for the owners title but also keeps multiple drivers in contention for the final four, with points now determining who else advances alongside Almirola.
Reflecting on his achievement, Almirola expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to fight for the championship:
“Such an awesome opportunity to go race for an owner’s championship with [Gibbs’ late son] J.D. Gibbs name on the car,”
— Aric Almirola, Driver
He discussed the challenges faced during the final stage, highlighting his team’s performance and the competitive battle with Zilisch:
“Our car was good. Our car was really good but the longer I ran the tighter I got and I was just struggling on the long run at the beginning of Stage 3 and finally on that re-start [with 23 laps remaining] I took off incredibly tight and couldn’t get going and was able to go chase the 88 [Zilisch] down. He looked pretty loose and I was able to capitalize on that.
It was awesome racing them.”
Zilisch Extends Streak but Faces Disappointment
Connor Zilisch, representing JR Motorsports, finished second and continued his remarkable run with a record-setting 18 consecutive top-five finishes. His performance included either a win or runner-up position in 11 of the last 13 races, demonstrating unprecedented consistency as the current championship leader. However, the runner-up result left Zilisch unsatisfied, as he missed the chance to secure his own spot in Phoenix and voiced his emotions post-race:
“The frustration just comes from the fact this means so much to me and the chance to lock into Phoenix,”
— Connor Zilisch, Championship Leader
He also addressed his effort and the challenge of not meeting his own expectations:
“I gave it my all and I drove as hard as I could. But I guess that’s all we had today. I just have to do a better job.”
Zilisch reflected further on the missed opportunity:
“We put ourselves int eh right spots, but unfortunately I just didn’t come away with it,”
— Connor Zilisch, Championship Leader
“Plus, 82 [points] is not bad, it could have been a lot worse but having another “win” sticker on this thing would have been a lot better.”
Other Top Finishers and Dynamic Team Battles
JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier, who began from the pole and won the previous Las Vegas race, took third place. Hendrick Motorsports’ developing talent Corey Day finished fourth, with Nick Sanchez of Big Machine Racing rounding out the top five. Jesse Love, piloting the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, led the pack briefly but placed sixth after a heated late-race contest with Sanchez that carried over to pit road.
Love, visibly frustrated, shared his reaction to the tussle following the race:
“I had words with him and obviously I’m extremely pissed off,”
— Jesse Love, Driver
“It was my fault I was in the spot racing him. … I don’t run into people and don’t put people in bad spots for no reason and that’s why I’m upset about it.”
“I did a lot of things really really good tonight and I did a lot of things really really bad tonight,”
— Jesse Love, Driver
Meanwhile, Nick Sanchez remained steadfast in his approach. Although no longer eligible for the Playoffs, he reiterated his intent to pursue victories in the remaining races of the season.
The top ten was completed by Ryan Sieg, Taylor Gray, Playoff contender Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill. The complexities of the race only intensified competition among teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, and Big Machine Racing, as well as among drivers Allgaier, Day, and other Playoff hopefuls.
Playoff Standings in Flux After Las Vegas Showdown
With his strong lead, Zilisch sits 82 points above the Playoff cutoff, providing a degree of security heading into the next round. Allgaier holds second place in the standings, 44 points clear of elimination, while Love’s sixth-place result elevated him to third, 20 points above the crucial line. Mayer, after his top-ten finish, is now fourth, just eight points up.
Below the cutoff are Brandon Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing, who finished 13th and now trails by eight points, and Sheldon Creed of the Haas Factory Team, whose 11th-place showing placed him 21 points out. Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith, both JR Motorsports teammates, finished 15th and 20th respectively, and now find themselves 22 and 24 points behind the cutoff, making the closing races critical for their championship hopes.
Next Up: Playoff Action Returns at Talladega
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff continues next week at the demanding 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, with the United Rentals 250 scheduled for Saturday. Sammy Smith, last year’s Talladega winner, will return as the field’s defending champion. The Las Vegas results have added new urgency to the points race, promising heightened competition as teams and drivers fight for a chance at championship glory in Phoenix.
